SEVILLE, Spain,
June 1, 2012--The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, part
of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), today
unveils the iconic Hotel Alfonso XIII following an extensive $25
million restoration, returning the hotel its original splendour and
luxurious grandeur. The reopening of Hotel Alfonso XIII marks the first
of four Luxury Collection hotels that will undergo a multi-million
dollar restoration and will re-open within the next 12 months,
including Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection hotel, San
Sebastian scheduled to debut in July 2012; Prince de Galles, a Luxury
Collection hotel, Paris and The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection
hotel, Venice; both scheduled to open in early 2013.
"As The Luxury Collection portfolio continues to grow globally, it is
equally--if not more--important that we invest in and celebrate the
heritage of the brand and it's most iconic hotels in Europe," says Paul
James, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection Hotels
& Resorts. "Hotel Alfonso XIII has been a landmark in Seville since
1928, and we are delighted to reintroduce global explorers and the
local community to the beauty of this spectacular destination with the
exceptional service and style they have come to expect from The Luxury
Collection."
Located on the historic Calle San Fernando in the heart of Seville,
Hotel Alfonso XIII is considered to be one of the grandest hotels in
Europe, originally designed by Sevillian architect Jose Espiau y
Muñoz and eventually named after King Alfonso XIII. The
extensive ten-month restoration project was led by Demopolis, a
renowned local Sevillian architect, and features Arabic-inspired
arches, soaring towers and renaissance-style windows. Designed by HBA
Design, the interiors fuse history and opulence with original
hand-painted Triana and Mensaque ceramic tiles, authentic wood carved
furnishings and marble floors. The hotel will also introduce The Luxury
Collection Concierge service to all guests and promises the most
discerning global travellers an extraordinary experience.
Starwood currently operates 17 hotels and resorts throughout Spain
under seven of its nine distinct and iconic brands. In addition to
Hotel Alfonso XIII, these hotels include the ground-breaking W
Barcelona, the venerable Westin Palace in Madrid, the luxurious St.
Regis Mardavall Resort in Majorca, the world-famous Marques de Riscal,
a Luxury Collection Hotel in Elciego, Le Meridien Ra Beach Hotel &
Spa and the impressive Sheraton Golf Resorts in the Canaries and
Majorca.
Luxury Accommodations
Hotel Alfonso XIII features 151 luxuriously-appointed guest rooms and
suites including three individually-designed signature suites.
Reflecting Seville's rich artistic heritage, all guest rooms feature
one of three design concepts - Moorish, Castillian or Andalusian -
offering a distinctive color palette, custom-designed furniture and
lavish interiors to create a sophisticated sense of relaxed opulence.
The hotel's three signature hotel suites, the Reales Alcázares
Suite, the Torreón Suite and the Royal Suite are at once
inspired by Seville's rich history and designed to cater to a new
generation of affluent travellers. The Reales Alcázares Suite
features warm, dark interiors and offers spectacular views over the
Real Alcázar's picturesque gardens and fountains. The sprawling
Torreón Suite features a private terrace which extends out into
the corner tower of the hotel offering one of the most magnificent
views of Seville. Finally, the lavish 200 square-metre Royal Suite is
exquisitely decorated with hand-selected antique pieces including the
spectacular 'Bargueño', a Spanish Renaissance cabinet inlayed
with mother-of-pearl which was gifted to the hotel by The Aga Khan.
Exquisite Culinary Experiences
Dining at Hotel Alfonso XIII offers indigenous and distinctive culinary
options that indulge the senses. Bodega Alfonso is a modern, opulent
Spanish restaurant with a spacious terrace, serving traditional tapas
dishes and wines from the region. Taifas is the hotel's poolside
restaurant and bar with Moorish-inspired interiors, offering exquisite
Mediterranean-style cuisine and cocktails, while San Fernando offers
the perfect setting any time of day and the finest in Andalusian
cuisine. The redesigned, Art Deco-inspired American Bar is a local
favourite and the perfect venue for intimate gatherings.
Restored Salón Real
Ballroom
Hotel Alfonso XIII features extensive state-of-the-art meeting and
event space including the newly renovated Salón Real Ballroom,
which hosts up to 500 people and opens out to a spacious terrace
offering spectacular views over the hotel's extensive gardens. The
renovation of the Salón Real Ballroom included the handcrafted
restoration of the ceiling, the installation of Bohemian inspired
crystal and bronze chandeliers, and a new wrought iron door inspired by
Andalusian Cathedrals.
For more information on Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel,
please visit www.luxurycollection.com/alfonsoxiii
About The Luxury Collection
Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection(R) is an ensemble of hotels and resorts offering
unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories.
For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the
world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort
is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the
destination's indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent decor,
spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern
conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience.
Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of Europe's
most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection
brand is a glittering ensemble of more than 80 of the world's finest
hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling cities and
spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection
includes award-winning properties that continuously exceed guest
expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class while
celebrating each hotel's distinctive heritage and unique character. All
of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally
recognized as being among the world's finest. For more information,
please visit www.luxurycollection.com.
(Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of federal securities regulations. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and
involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual
results or events to differ materially from those anticipated at the
time the forward-looking statements are made. These risks and
uncertainties are presented in detail in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based
upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our
expectations will be attained or that results and events will not
materially differ. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.)